A quiet few days GB, things a bit bonkers work-wise and on the home front – and of course all the best stuff happens when I’m away from TOD or the Twitter machine, like that suit :-) Hope all’s good with ya GB?

Interesting findings on the potential economic impact of comprehensive immigration reform via Brookings Int.: This report uses a new database on foreign student visa approvals from 2001 to 2012 to analyze their distribution in the United States, finding that:

The number of foreign students on F-1 visas in U.S. colleges and universities grew dramatically from 110,000 in 2001 to 524,000 in 2012. The sharpest increases occurred among students from emerging economies such as China and Saudi Arabia. Foreigners studying for bachelor’s and master’s degrees and English language training accounted for most of the overall growth.

Foreign students are concentrated in U.S. metropolitan areas. From 2008 to 2012, 85 percent of foreign students pursuing a bachelor’s degree or above attended colleges and universities in 118 metro areas that collectively accounted for 73 percent of U.S. higher education students. They contributed approximately $21.8 billion in tuition and $12.8 billion in other spending—representing a major services export—to those metropolitan economies over the five-year period.

Most foreign students come from large fast-growing cities in emerging markets. Ninety-four (94) foreign cities together accounted for more than half of all students on an F-1 visa between 2008 and 2012. Seoul, Beijing, Shanghai, Hyderabad and Riyadh are the five foreign cities that sent the most higher education students to the United States during that time.

Foreign students disproportionately study STEM and business fields. Two-thirds of foreign students pursuing a bachelor’s or higher degree are in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) or business, management and marketing fields, versus 48 percent of students in the United States. Both large (San Jose, Calif.) and small (Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas) metro areas figure among those with the highest shares of their foreign students in STEM disciplines.

Forty-five (45) percent of foreign student graduates extend their visas to work in the same metropolitan area as their college or university. Metro areas that retain high shares of their foreign graduates under the temporary Optional Practical Training (OPT) program tend to be either large diversified economies (e.g., New York, Los Angeles), or specialized labor markets that align closely with foreign graduates’ training (e.g., Honolulu, Seattle, Las Vegas).

These findings suggest that foreign students can provide important economic benefits to their U.S. metropolitan destinations—serving as bridges back to their growing home cities and offering valuable skills to local employers. More metropolitan leaders should emulate leading practices that capitalize on the knowledge and relationships of foreign students to strengthen local economies while also maximizing students’ educational and professional experiences in the United States….continued

Re the tweet about how Medicare Spending projections have fallen, due in part to the ACA, I can’t help but think about how, in 2010 and 2012, the GOP was trying to scare all the current Medicare recipients into voting against Dems and the President because of the ACA (I was more than a little bit irritated at this sort of “I’ve got mine, so screw you” mentality). Now it turns out that the ACA will help preserve the solvency of Medicare. Those of us who actually paid attention to the law knew this would happen, of course. :-)

MSoph, the key is “actually paid attention.” Republicans and their GOP media arm always distort the truth if it’s favorable to Dems, but those who listen, read and learn will always be able to spot the lies and make their own sound decisions.

“…Many of the 1.1 billion people out there who use Microsoft Office don’t have a choice. They live in tiny Excel cells and PowerPoint decks because it’s what the IT department ordered. But if you just bought a new computer or need to update your productivity software, it’s time to ask one of today’s toughest tech questions: Do I really need to buy Microsoft Office?

You can find most Office features in the free competitors—all of which can open and edit Office documents. These rivals provide better Web functionality and online collaboration. But Microsoft’s Office 365 subscription now includes perks that make the expense easier to rationalize. Here’s a look at what Microsoft Office 365 and its two rivals have to offer…continued”

I’m thinking about installing Open Office on mine and the missus’ computers. I have Office 2007, while she doesn’t have anything at all. I was thinking about Office 365, but do I really want to pay a yearly subscription when I can get the same functionality for free?

I’m still using Office 2010…fortunately I can use Office 365 if I need it for free through my school, but the access expires every 6 months(and they don’t format w/ ’10 version.) I’m in the same boat as you about the subscribing.

I have a bit of thinking to do. A good friend of mine got a job in NYC and is leaving this weekend. She’s a school librarian, which means her job here will be bulletined soon. I’m seriously thinking about applying for it. The perks—all that time off—are just too good to pass up. And as I’m bilingual, and the supply of Latino librarians is criminally small, I have a good shot. Advice is welcomed.

Ah, an interesting decision for you to make LL. I have to say, all that time off sounds huuuuugely appealing, would give you time to focus on your writing and other interests. How do you feel about your current job?

Oh, I love my current job. It’s just that this might be even better. I’ll talk with my friend over the next couple of weeks and find out about everything that she does, what she likes/doesn’t like. She’s going to be a school librarian again in NYC, so she must like the work enough. I’d be teaching the kids research skills and how to use the library, which I think would be cool.

LL, in any setting you will be influencing children, but in a school setting even more so. You would have a terrific opportunity to help shape their lives, maybe even help some avoid making poor decisions, be a role model for young men, thus helping even more to shape the future. Like PBO does ~ he knows the future lies in their hands and in the choices they will make. Will be interested to watch your views develop.

More or less. Because all California employee pay records are online, I was able to see what she made. Base salary is the same. I get more benefits, but that’s because I have the common law missus. Factor health coverage for her in, and the total pay should be about the same.

LL, one of my clients is a college librarian and she loves her job. Would this be for elementary, middle, high school? She said she prefers her job to when she was at a public library because there were too many kids that were dropped off without their parents and they didn’t just sit and read but ran around and played and were little terrors and she felt like more of a baby sitter than a librarian. When I was a kid I used to go to the library after school and wait for my mom to get off work, but I would sit and read and be quiet (it was the library, after all! :-) )

If you love your job now, that’s something to consider. I can work with anyone too, but I’ve had some bosses in the past that were a nightmare. Even though I smiled and nodded and made it work, I was miserable doing it.

My wife was a school librarian for 27 years. Lots of stress and the first to get laid off when budget crunch hits. Demanding teachers and administrators, and behavior problems with kids. I would think twice about leaving a public library job.

It’s funny. I met this friend when we both started out at the same library. She got fed up working with the public after a year, and took the school job. The one thing she complained about was processing all the textbooks. Other than that, she seems to like being a school librarian. But, yes, I pretty much have a job for life in my system. I’m quite aware that the school librarian’s job is less secure.

Unless your commute will be the commute from hell, can’t see any downsides for you to apply for the new gig.

Having a boss that supports you is the most important quality in a boss IMO — I once had a boss that made me want to jump off a bridge, and another that we called “Queen of Mean (ala Leona Helmsley)” — but if your new boss isn’t that bad, then a great opportunity for you.

I guess the most important consideration for you is if the school district places any restrictions on your publishing your work — but the extra time you’d get to devote to your luminous craft and making mouthwatering dinners sounds divine — plus no entrenched RWNJs, just young minds open to all possibilities.

I say def go for it! You would be wonderful at the job. You are a natural teacher & I think you would enjoy expanding the young minds. You would be working regular days, no week ends & would have school vacays to do your own writing. Good luck!

LL…..excellent ideas from all the TODers. I figure every interview is a good experience, and yes, , if you interview you don’t have to take it if you find out it’s now what you want. I’ve always worked in schools, at different levels, and love them. I also notice that librarians, wherever they work, are some of the happiest people I know!

If you live in New York State or you know people who do please help spread the word that Tim Wu stands an excellent chance of winning the Primary and joining Cuomo on the (D) ticket in the General Election.

Kathy Hochul is proud of her anti-Obamacare votes and her “A” rating from the NRA.

Tim Wu, whose twitter handle is superwuster, invented the term “net neutrality” is a Professor at Columbia, married with an 11 month old daughter, tall, handsome, and if elected will be the first Asian American to win statewide office in N Y State. Every one of his positions concurs with Mayor de Blasio’s and mine.

This will be a low turnout election and NYC has a huge, highly aware and civic-minded Asian electorate. I think Tim Wu, who nobody had heard of a month ago, has a terrific chance.

Primary is Sept. 9 and we need to show up in NY and vote for this guy.

The College Football Grid of Shame: As Season Begins, We Rank Everyone on How Good—And How Shameful—They Are

“College football is the ultimate balancing act between athletics and ethics: How much does your school win, and how far must it go to do it? Every school is trying, somewhat futilely, to maximize its glory while minimizing the damage inherent in this megabucks business of “amateur” football. And so, with the season beginning in earnest on Thursday, The Wall Street Journal presents the Grid of Shame, our fourth-annual guide to the most powerful and deplorable teams in college football.

The Grid is a way of sorting out which fans can boast about their team—on and/or off the field—and who should think again before gloating. The horizontal axis assesses on-field strength for this upcoming season. We took the preseason ratings of all 128 major-college teams from several media outlets and predictive computer models, then averaged them together to smooth out the slight outliers. The better the team, the farther they are on the right.

The vertical axis measures shame. This is trickier to quantify, of course, but there is data to help the cause. We decided the thin line between admirable and embarrassing with a weighted calculation of every team’s academic performance, NCAA violation and probationary record, attendance figures, off-season arrests, total funding it takes from the university or state and amount that student fees subsidize the athletic department….continued via WSJ”

For what it is worth, all but one of the 14 Big Ten schools is on the admirable side, and the one that isn’t is just below the line. And most of them are also on the PowerHouse side, showing that you can be good on and off the field.

I think w/ Braxton being out for the season the biggest game for Michigan St. will be the Oregon matchup. B/C the conference is so weak this year Big 10 will have to go undefeated to make the playoffs.

I keep getting endless emails from Leticia Van De Putte, who is running for Lt Gov in Texas. I usually delete them, but today I got one asking me to donate $5 to her campaign from Cecile Richards, of Planned Parenthood. What’s the story on Leticia Van De Putte? Is she a good candidate and does she have any chance of winning?

Madame Soph…..I live in Oklahoma, but my son and family live in Texas, so I’ve kept up with this gubernatorial election. Leticia Van De Putte is superb. She is the demo candidate and served in the legislature with Wendy Davis. In Texas the Lt. Gov has more legislative power than the gov. She would decide what comes up for vote, what goes to committees, who gets committee assignments, etc. If Wendy Davis had her for a lt.gov, great positive changes could come to Texas.
Her name fools people. She is Hispanic, but married a Belgian, so her last name is not Hispanic. She is whip smart!!! The current lt. gov, Abbott, who’s running for gov, is one reason Texas has the problems they have…..he is corrupt. Texas has one of the statutorily weakest governors in the country. They talk big, but really don’t do much.

MadameSoph…..answer #2. To find out why Leticia Van De Putte is so desperately needed, read the article in Politicususa about Greg Abbott, the present lt. gov and his scheme to rob education of funds. He got royally knocked down today by a federal judge. This is important to me because my precious grandchildren go to school in Texas. I was thrilled with the ruling. I have been sending money to Wendy Davis for my family, but have not had any requests from LV. If I receive a request from Cecile Richards (I’m on her list) I will probably donate……my grandkids need her, as so millions of other school children in Texas.

She’s fantastic. Donate to her if you can. Lieutenant Governors in Texas have incredible legislative power and decide what bills come to the floor for a vote. That’s how Republicans were able to get all the education cuts, social welfare cuts, VRA tampering, and rolling back of women’s rights to come to fruition. They had David Dewhurst.

So donate, donate, donate.

Also, donate to John Bucy because he’s running neck and neck with a Republican and looks likely to flip a very red district to blue. If more Democrats are in the legislature, that only helps.

So this Right Wing blogger “Chuck Johnson” is the one who has supposedly filed a lawsuit to have Mike Brown’s juvenile records unsealed. He has been spreading rumors generated by “anonymous cop” sources about Mike Brown’s supposed involvement in earlier crimes. See how his “confirmed ” stories don’t add up and then he quickly tries to change his story. Note how his story evolves from “confirmed” to “that’s why we need records to verify” but this man is clearly is desperate….

Confirmed earlier report that #MichaelBrown had juvenile arrest record involving second degree murder… Working on getting report #Ferguson

the reporting I saw was the initial stop was because they were walking down the middle of the street—–and as he was dealing with that the call came in about the robbery—-and he noticed the cigarillos in their hands. Don’t know if that’s true, but that’s what was reported at the time—–actually a clarification after the chief said the 2 weren’t stopped because of robbery (and people ran with that)—–but it was after Wilson had first interacted with them that he heard reports of robbery—–which I presume resulted in further questioning.

Maybe—–hopefully the whole truth will be revealed. But I did hear an immediate clarification of the chief’s initial comments—–now whether that was truth or someone in the PD interjecting falsely, I do not know. No one does yet.

Yes, hopefruit. Plenty of reasons to be joyful.
Big Eddie just covered the rising tide that will overturn the GOP Governorships in Michigan, Florida, Wisconsin, Arkansas, and Kansas.
Let me add Maine, Georgia, and possibly Texas to that list.

Hey everyone, thanks for all the advice. Sorry, work got a little hectic. It’ll be interesting to see when the job is posted what the duties. are. Then again, the school district may just cut the job and have a library tech man the library. Hard telling these days. Public employment goes up and down with the economy. I’m lucky that my system didn’t have layoffs, but we did shorten library hours.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnnell’s (R-KY) campaign manager, Jesse Benton, plans to resign his position as the top official on McConnell’s re-election campaign, The Kentucky Herald-Leader reported Friday afternoon.

According to the Herald-Leader, Benton met with McConnell on Friday afternoon and gave the top Senate Republican his letter of resignation, which McConnell accepted.

Benton’s resignation is effective Saturday.

Benton’s resignation comes amidst a bribery scandal from when he was the political director for Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) during the 2012 presidential campaign that could spill over into McConnell’s re-election fight. Benton has stressed that he is innocent and blamed “inaccurate press accounts and unsubstantiated media rumors.”

Judge Hollis McGehee on Friday dismissed state Sen. Chris McDaniel’s (R) lawsuit challenging the runoff results in the Mississippi Republican primary for U.S. Senate citing that McDaniel was too late to file his complaint.

It’s the latest speed bump for McDaniel since the June 24 runoff, which Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS) won.

McDaniel’s team, in response, argued that no such deadline existed in state law and that the decision the Cochran lawyers had been citing was for old elections. The law that included that deadline, McDaniel’s lawyers argued, had been updated.

McDaniel can still appeal the lawsuit to the state Supreme Court. If the Mississippi Supreme Court disagrees with McGehee’s Friday ruling then the case will go to trial.

I still think it’s pure, extreme jealousy. They know they would never look that good in a suit of any color——and they know the person in the suit is a million times more the man than they could ever hope to be—-by every measure. They are obsessed with him——as is the entire media and seemingly everyone——they see/know the same things we see and know, whether they’re willing to admit it or not. No one would comment on what some ugly old president was wearing—-no one would care.